2007-01-29 09:49:56 · 9 answers · asked by toietmoi 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Yeah of course, just look at how cats hunt. They wait in ambush for birds -- that means they have to understand where birds are likely to be, and plan where is a good spot to ambush them. In otherwords, they have an abstract concept of what a bird is likely to do.
I've heard lots of idiotic statements about how the "dot on the forehead in front of a mirror" test is supposed to prove abstract thinking; that is bullshit. All it does is prove that the animal is vain enough to care about having a dot on the forehead (which is why it works so well on people & chimps). I have seen cats pounce on toys by using a mirror to see around the corner, and I have also seen them close their eyes in response to a human doing the same (again from looking in the mirror at the human). They clearly know what mirrors are, and that in some way shows that they have an abstract concept of what they are looking at it in a mirror.
2007-01-29 10:18:51 · answer #1 · answered by Sunflower81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess it depends on the pet.
A stick insect or tarantula probably isn't. More intelligent animals like dogs and rats which are meant to be as smart as toddlers probably can.
African greys and other large parrots are said to be close to chimpanzees intelligence wise so they almost certanly can.
2007-01-29 10:59:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it might be possible, though perhaps not as complex as humans. I have heard that dogs have the intellectual capacity of about a 2-3 year old human. Given that small children can think abstractly, though in less complex ways than adults, I think it could be true.
2007-01-29 09:59:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes we had a dalmation and he loved my husband and one day my husband was putting windows in our upsatairs from out side on an extention ladder and the dog tried to get up to him then he figured out he couldnt get to him
soooo he came in the house went up the stairs and went right to the window to see him i swear this is true.
2007-01-29 12:36:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I do, because my bird dances to mucie when I'm danceing to but if I see him dance he stops and waits for me to say "come on Aqua dance with me" boy he go's cazey in he's cage after that.
2007-01-29 10:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by leo_s09 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is very dependent upon the type of animal you are talking about.
2007-01-29 09:57:11 · answer #6 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, my GSD dose it, I have think 1 step ahead.
2007-01-29 16:22:42 · answer #7 · answered by CLIVE C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Tony (poodle) Blair only does what is master tells him to do.
2007-01-29 09:57:13 · answer #8 · answered by Drop the donkey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a cat and yes, he has a mind of his own.
2007-01-29 22:32:05 · answer #9 · answered by Catwhiskers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋